This & That: Quakes notes for Aug. 13, 2012

This Week

The San Jose Earthquakes (14-5-5, 47 pts.) will travel east to face the Montreal Impact for the first time in club history on Saturday, Aug. 18 at Saputo Stadium. The game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet Plus, 1590 KLIV (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).

Earthquakes All-Time Record vs. Montreal Impact

Montreal Impact Info

Montreal Impact Scouting Report
The Montreal Impact (10-13-3, 33 pts.) enter Saturday’s match sixth in the Eastern Conference during their inaugural MLS campaign. The expansion side has been considerably better at home this season with an 8-3-2 mark and 25 of their 36 goals scored at Stade Saputo. Leading the way offensively has been the midfielder tandem of Patrice Bernier and Felipe Martins. Bernier has scored a team-high six goals, including three in his last seven matches, while Martins has chipped in with four goals and eight assists.

History of the Quakes – Montreal Impact Rivalry
The Earthquakes will face the Montreal Impact for the first time in club history on Saturday, Aug. 18 at Saputo Stadium in Quebec.

Earthquakes-Montreal Impact Connections
Earthquakes midfielder Khari Stephenson (28), Impact goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (91), and Impact defender Shavar Thomas (42) have all been capped by the Jamaican national team … Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon and Ricketts were teammates on the LA Galaxy from 2009-10 … Earthquakes midfielder Sam Cronin and Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton were teammates on Toronto FC in 2009 … Earthquakes defender Ike Opara and Impact defender Zarek Valentin were teammates on the U.S. Under-23 National Team that competed in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in March … Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas and Impact midfielder Jeb Brovsky were teammates on Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2011 … Earthquakes defender Justin Morrow and Brovsky are both Notre Dame alumni, and played together for the Fighting Irish from 2007-09 … Montreal goalkeeper coach Preston Burpo was briefly a member of the Earthquakes in 2008 … The Earthquakes traded Burpo in May 2008 for Jovan Kirovski and current Earthquakes television analyst Kelly Gray … Earthquakes midfielder Ramiro Corrales beat Impact head coach Jesse Marsch and Impact midfielder Justin Mapp in 2003 MLS Cup when the latter were members of the Chicago Fire … Earthquakes defender Jason Hernandez and Marsch played together for Chivas USA from 2006-07 … Earthquakes midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy and Impact midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic were teammates on the New York Red Bulls in 2010 … Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop (52), Earthquakes assistant coach Mark Watson (78), Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier (46), and Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton (16) have all represented Canada at the international level.

Miscellaneous Notes

Quakes First in Western Conference, Supporters’ Shield Standings
The Earthquakes (14-5-5, 47 pts.) firmed their grasp on the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings with a 2-1 win against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium. The club has a five-point edge on Real Salt Lake (13-9-3, 42 pts.) in the Western Conference and a four-point gap over Sporting Kansas City (13-7-4, 43 pts.) in the Supporters’ Shield race.

Three Earthquakes Called to US Men’s National Team Camp
Chris Wondolowski, Steven Beitashour and Alan Gordon were among 23 players called to US Men’s National Team duty by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Sunday ahead of a friendly with Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Wednesday, Aug. 15 (5 p.m. PT / ESPN2, Univision). Beitashour and Gordon are both looking for their first caps while Wondolowski is aiming for his ninth appearance with the United States.

Vivan Los Catrachos
Victor Bernardez and Marvin Chavez were among 20 players named to the Honduras national team last week ahead of a friendly with Boca Juniors in Miami, Fla. on Wednesday, Aug. 18. Bernardez was previously called up by Los Catrachos for a pair of 2014 World Cup Qualifiers in June while Chavez hopes to earn his first cap since 2011.

Oct. 21 Match vs. LA Galaxy Sold Out
The Earthquakes’ match against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Buck Shaw Stadium is officially sold out. The game is San Jose’s final regular season home date of the year. Tickets are still available for the club’s remaining home games against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, Aug. 25, Chivas USA on Sunday, Sept. 2, Portland Timbers on Wednesday, Sept. 19 and FC Dallas on Saturday, Sept. 29 by visiting www.sjearthquakes.com or calling 800-225-2277.

Earthquakes Top Sounders FC 3-0 in Reserve League Match
The Earthquakes struck thrice in the second half to upend visiting Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday at the club’s training facility. Sam Garza, Sercan Guvenisik and Ramiro Corrales each tallied to improve San Jose’s reserve to 2-2-2 on the year.

New Set of Tiebreakers
MLS announced a new set of tiebreakers to determine positions in the standings last week. The new order is: 1) Most goals scored; 2) Greatest goal differential; 3) Fewest disciplinary points; 4) Most road goals scored; 5) Greatest road goal differential; 6) Most home goals scored; 7) Greatest home goal differential; 8) Coin toss (for two teams) or drawing of lots (three or more teams).

Wondolowski Fined by MLS Disciplinary Committee
Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski was fined an undisclosed amount last week for comments made about the referee following San Jose’s 2-1 loss against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on July 22. Fines collected are donated to the charitable partners of MLS W.O.R.K.S. and the MLS Players Union.

Gordon Suspended for Montreal Impact Match on Saturday
Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon will serve a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation on Saturday, Aug. 18 when San Jose takes on the Montreal Impact at Saputo Stadium in Quebec. Gordon picked up his fifth caution of the season in the Earthquakes’ 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire on July 28.

Blonde-Haired Bedlam Continues at Buck Shaw
Earthquakes forward Steven Lenhart continued San Jose’s home magic with another stoppage-time goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Seattle Sounders FC. The blond-haired striker headed home his seventh goal of the season in the 93rd minute to ensure his club picked up the full three points against Seattle. One game prior on July 28, Lenhart struck in the eighth minute of stoppage to earn a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Unbeaten at Buck Shaw
Steven Lenhart’s stoppage-time strikes in the Earthquakes’ last two home games have pushed San Jose’s record to 7-0-3 within the friendly confines of Buck Shaw Stadium this season. The last time the Earthquakes lost at their primary home venue was a 2-1 result against the Colorado Rapids on Aug. 13, 2011. Including matches played at AT&T Park and Stanford Stadium, the Earthquakes are 8-1-3 at home this season.

Stoppage-Time Shenanigans
Steven Lenhart’s goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage (93rd minute) vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Aug. 13 was the seventh scored by San Jose in 2012, a new club and MLS record for such strikes. The Earthquakes have earned themselves an additional 11 points in the standings thanks to stoppage-time heroics this season. Of their seven goals, five were game winners and one was an equalizer.

Late-Game Scoring Records
The Earthquakes set a pair of club records pertaining to late-game scoring in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Seattle Sounders FC. Steven Lenhart’s stoppage-time goal was the seventh scored by the Earthquakes in 2012, topping the club record of six. Additionally, that goal marked the 17th goal San Jose has scored in the final 15 minutes of normal time this season, one-upping the previous club record of 16 set in 1998.

Iron Man Morrow
Quakes all-star defender Justin Morrow has played every minute of San Jose’s 24 games this season. He is one of five players in MLS to see the field in each of his club’s 24 matches in 2012. The list also includes Colorado’s Matt Pickens and Drew Moor, Sporting Kansas City’s Jimmy Nielsen and Vancouver’s Lee Young-Pyo.

Wondolowski Approaching MLS Single Season Record for Game-Winning Goals
Chris Wondolowski is one game-winning goal away from tying an MLS record that he shares with former LA Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz. Wondolowski (2010) and Ruiz (2002) have each recorded nine game-winning goals in a single season. San Jose’s striker has scored the game winner in eight of San Jose’s 13 victories to date. The Earthquakes have 11 games remaining for Wondolowski to try and match the record.

Wondolowski Closing in on Club Scoring Mark
Chris Wondolowski is seven goals away from matching Ronald Cerritos’ club record for career goals scored. Cerritos scored 61 goals in 148 games over six seasons in San Jose. Meanwhile, Wondolowski has 54 goals in 95 games over five seasons for the Earthquakes. Additionally, with 17 goals this year, Wondolowski is one goal away from tying his own record for goals in a single season. He scored 18 goals in 2010.

Top of the League
Through 24 games, the Earthquakes are No. 1 in MLS with 47 goals scored and 51 assists. With 29 goals conceded, the Quakes are also No. 1 in the league with a +18 goal differential. San Jose also leads the league with 31 second-half goals and a +20 goal differential in the second half.

Single Season Goals Record
The San Jose Earthquakes continue to close in on the club’s single season record for goals scored. After Saturday’s 2-1 win against Sounders FC, the Earthquakes have scored 47 goals in 2012 to lead the league. That total is the most scored in San Jose since the club returned to MLS in 2008 and eight off the benchmark of 55 set by the San Jose Clash in 1997.

Earthquakes to Host San Luis FC in International Friendly on Sept. 6
The Earthquakes will host San Luis FC of the Mexican Primera Division in an international friendly on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Buck Shaw Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are on sale at www.sjearthquakes.com or by calling 800-225-2277. The club is also offering a special two-pack: A Supporters’ Section ticket to the Quakes’ match against Chivas USA on Sunday, Sept. 2 as well as San Luis FC for $30 (savings of $14). The offer is available only by visiting www.sjearthquakes.com.

Wine & Dine with the Earthquakes Set for Sept. 9 at Guglielmo Winery
The club will host its Wine and Dine with the Earthquakes wine tasting and fundraising event on Sunday, Sept. 9 at the Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill. The event includes wine tasting, VIP catering and the opportunity to mingle with Earthquakes players, coaches and front office members. Tickets to the event are available to all Earthquakes fans starting at www.sjearthquakes.com/wine. Tickets for this exclusive event are $100 per person or a table of eight for $800. You can also purchase one of five VIP tables for eight guests for $1,200 and have Chris Wondolowski, Steven Lenhart, Jon Busch, Alan Gordon or Frank Yallop as the guest at your table. Guests must be 21 years of age or older in order to attend. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted. All proceeds will benefit the Earthquakes Community Fund.

Fifth Annual Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation Banquet Set for Oct. 12
The Fifth Annual Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation Awards Banquet is slated for Friday, Oct. 12 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif. featuring former Earthquakes defender Jimmy Conrad as the keynote speaker. The event also includes the Andrew Bedard “Spirit of the Game” Award given to an Earthquakes player for the charitable works throughout the year. For ticket, donation and sponsorship information visit www.ssvcf.org/annualdinner.html.

Wells Fargo Goals for Education
Wells Fargo has again pledged to donate $250 for each goal the Earthquakes score in 2012 through the Goals for Education program. With 47 goals through 24 games, the donated total for this season already stands at $11,750. Thanks to 40 goals in 2011, the partnership raised $10,000 for local youth soccer and athletic development programs a year ago.